Colorado lifts evacuations after Gold Mountain fires

Ouray County and federal land managers eased wildfire restrictions in western Colorado ahead of Labor Day after months of disruption from the Gold Mountain and Elk fires. A September 2 update said evacuation zones around the fires had been removed as containment improved and more recreation areas reopened. The changes affect parts of Montrose, Ouray, Gunnison and Hinsdale counties, where closures had limited access through much of the summer. Officials said some forest and road restrictions still remain in place. ### Which evacuations were lifted, and where? Ouray County’s fire information page said all previous evacuation zones in the county for the Gold Mountain Fire were lifted effective August 3, while warning that road and trail closures on federal land remained in effect. Gunnison County’s alert center says there are currently no active evacuation zones in Gunnison County for either the Gold Mountain Fire or the Elk Fire. The county said the Gold Mountain Fire began in Ouray County near the southwestern edge of Gunnison County, while the Elk Fire is burning north of Lake City near the county line. (ouraycountyco.gov) The September 2 local update, citing fire command and land managers, said evacuation zones around the Gold Mountain Fire had been removed and that “more is open” heading into the holiday weekend. ### What is actually reopening for visitors? The U.S. Forest Service said on August 25 that the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests reduced closure areas tied to the Gold Mountain and Elk wildfires. (gunnisoncounty.org) The agency said the western Gold Mountain closure still covers National Forest lands east of U.S. Highway 550 in Ouray County, including areas near Dexter Creek, Horse Thief Trail and parts of the Uncompahgre Wilderness. (kekbfm.com) The same Forest Service update said roads, trails and recreation sites in the Silver Jack, Cimarron and Cow Creek drainages remain closed while firefighters continue work on the Gold Mountain Fire. For the Elk Fire, the agency said large areas west of Highway 149 in Hinsdale and Gunnison counties also remain closed under the revised order. (fs.usda.gov) Ouray County’s maps-and-closures page continues to publish separate layers for evacuation zones, U.S. Forest Service closures, Bureau of Land Management closures and road closures, showing that access is reopening unevenly rather than all at once. ### How far along are the fires? Gold Mountain Fire tracking pages based on official incident data listed the fire at about 39,744 acres and 92% contained as of September 2. (fs.usda.gov) A final written update posted August 30 said future incident information would move to the fire’s Facebook page as conditions warrant. The August 30 final update also said archery seasons for deer, elk and bear began September 2 and that increased scouting, camping and hunting activity was expected around the fire area. (ouraycountyco.gov) Officials used that notice to remind visitors that fire traffic and remaining closures were still part of the picture. ### Why are closures still in place if evacuations are gone? (firerisk.ai) The Forest Service’s current closure order says updated boundaries took effect August 24 at 5 p.m. and remain in place through December 1. The order covers specific National Forest lands affected by the Gold Mountain and Elk fires and bars entry into closed areas except under listed exemptions. (westslopefireinfo.com) The difference is that county evacuation orders are public-safety measures for residents and visitors, while federal closure orders govern access to fire-affected public lands, roads and trails. The county and federal maps now show fewer evacuation restrictions than earlier in the summer, but they still show active closure polygons in parts of the burn areas. (fs.usda.gov) ### Where should travelers check before heading out? GMUG National Forests directs visitors to its closure order and maps for the latest federal restrictions, while Ouray County and Gunnison County continue to post evacuation and access updates on their emergency pages. Officials have also linked road and closure information through county map hubs and fire information pages. (ouraycountyco.gov) Labor Day visitors heading toward Silver Jack, Cimarron, Cow Creek, Lake City or the Uncompahgre backcountry will need to check those county and federal pages before traveling, because the current Forest Service order remains in effect until December 1 unless officials revise it sooner. (fs.usda.gov) (ouraycountyco.gov)